Traffic fraud

Traffic fraud

From Media Indonesia

This incident took place at the Jl. Proklamasi to Jl. Diponegoro turning, in front of Metropole Theater, on Sunday, Aug. 13, 1995, at about 3 p.m. The traffic was relatively quiet at that time. I was driving my car along Jl. Proklamasi towards Jl. Diponegoro. The traffic lights on the left showed yellow and were flashing, which meant that one could go on and turn left. No sooner had I made the turn, when two policemen approached, one of them asked me to park my car at the roadside. They had done the same with the taxi in front of me.

I thought they just wanted to check my car documents, as I did not feel I had violated any traffic regulation. But he convincingly said that I had run the red light, asking me whether I wanted to settle the case through court or pay the Rp. 26,600 fine at the BRI bank. Still in utter confusion, I asked the policeman which red light had I run, as I didn't see it.

He said that it was the red light which allowed pedestrians to cross the road. The policeman and I went to the lights to see the traffic light. I asked the color of the light. The policeman said "yellow." But he insisted that I had breached the traffic law.

I am 63 years old. I am particularly concerned over the way these policemen performed their duty and treated the public.

PROF. DR. ISKANDAR

WAHIDIYAT

Jakarta